The combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate is an oral antibiotic widely used in the treatment of mild-to-moderate bacterial infections including sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis media, cellulitis and community acquired pneumonia. Amoxicillin/clavulanate is currently the most common cause of clinically apparent, drug induced acute liver injury. The combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate is a commonly used antibiotic which is active against many bacterial organisms that cause sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis media, skin and tissue infections and community acquired pneumonia. The combination consists of amoxicillin which is a semisynthetic, third generation penicillin and clavulanate which is a beta lactam that acts as an inhibitor of beta lactamase, the major bacterial enzyme responsible for penicillin resistance. Amoxicillin/clavulanate was approved for use in the United States in 1984 and, currently, 2 to 5 million prescriptions are filled yearly, making it one of the most common antibiotic regimens used. Current indications are for mild-to-moderate bacterial infections due to known or suspected pencillinase resistant gram positive or gram negative organisms. This combination is provided in multiple dose combinations, typically as 250 to 875 mg amoxicillin with 125 mg of clavulanate, given two to three times daily for 7 to 10 days. Amoxicillin/clavulanate is available in multiple generic formulations and under the brand name Augmentin. Common side effects include gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea and rash.
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